–Philly Local Wins Spot to Compete against Nation’s Best Freestyle MCs in Finals–

Philadelphia—Last week, eight of Philly’s freshest freestyle MCs headed to the Trocadero to battle it out at Red Bull EmSee but only one walked away the champion. In a night filled with piercing punch lines and lyrical acrobatics, MCs DNA, Finesse, Voss, Jawnzap7, Uno Lavos, OHM and Zm came ready to throw down, but it was Mic Stew’s quick wit and lyrical flow that earned him the champion title after an intense series of heated battles. He’ll advance to the Red Bull EmSee national finals in Atlanta later this fall. Last night’s battle, hosted by rapper Bun B, was judged by a panel of hip-hop heavies including Redman, Schoolly D and Joell Ortiz. The talented DJ Greg Nitty kept the beats bumpin’ throughout the show.

The Red Bull EmSee competition format puts a spin on the traditional rap battle by providing random prompts and cues on screens that the MCs needed to hit in each of their flows, challenging them to truly spit rhymes off-the-dome. Winner Mic Stew explained his experience, “It was one of the greatest challenges to my craft.” He continued, “The celeb lineup was a blessing. Redman and Schoolly D are legendary.” Mic Stew was able to impress all of the judges with his freestyle skills – Redman noted that his “confidence made his words sound more convincing.”

In between rounds, fans and competing MCs were treated to special performances by the judges but it was Redman’s conclusion of the night that really got the crowd excited.

After participating in last year’s Red Bull EmSee battle series, Mic Stew sharpened his skills and returned to claim the local title. “This year, in comparison to last, was bigger, better and doper. I went 10x harder,” said winner Mic Stew.

Mic Stew is a Philly native that used to battle for fun in High School because he didn’t like how other cats were rhyming or what they were rhyming about. That was the extent of his battle experience and it was never his goal to be the best battler of all time. He’s a songwriter and performer first and foremost but freestyle is the root of both of those things for him. He’s at home on the mic and finding rhythmic patterns in just about any style of music on the fly is “pretty much a sleepwalk for me.” Mic Stew is expanding his artistic horizons by experimenting with film and music. His band, GuerillaFunk, will be releasing two singles this Fall. Also coming up, his appearance at the Red Bull EmSee finals in Atlanta, which he is “stoked for.”

If Mic Stew indeed wins the national finals, he will be heading into Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica to work with a producer of his choice from a select panel. But first, he’ll have to go up against some of the best freestyle MCs from around the country. The next Red Bull EmSee battle will be hosted in Houston on September 8, 2011 at Warehouse Live. For more event information, click here.